2.Mary Somerville (1780–1872)

Do you want your daughter to become a science writer and polymath? Who wouldn't? Which is why you should call her Mary.

Mary was born in the Scottish Borders town of Jedburgh at a time when people weren't exactly welcoming women's participation in science with open arms. But she didn't let that stop her: She went on to study maths and astronomy, in 1835 became the first female member to be elected to the Royal Astronomical Society (jointly with Caroline Herschel), and played a role in the discovery of Neptune.

Mary was also a strong supporter of women's education and suffrage. If her name is good enough for an Oxford College, it's good enough for your baby.

3.Isabella MacDuff, Countness of Buchan (c. 1286–1313)

When Isabella's husband sided with the English in the Scottish Wars of Independence, she defied and abandoned him, "borrowed" some of his men and horses, rode to Scone, and crowned Robert the Bruce, as the MacDuff Clan had the right to inaugurate kings.

Unsurprisingly this didn't go down very well with King Edward I, who had her locked in an iron cage on the walls of Berwick Castle for four years. She was eventually released and joined a nunnery, but Edward still saw her as a threat.

So name your daughter Isabella: She will carve her own path in life, do whatever she wants, and intimidate kings while she does it.

4.Mairi Chisholm (1896–1981)

Do you want your daughter to be bold and caring, have very strong female friendships, and potentially host Top Gear? Then name her Mairi.

When war was declared in 1914, Scottish-born Mairi (pictured left) and her pal Elsie Knocker became dispatch riders for the Women's Emergency Corps. Mairi impressed a doctor with her hairpin turns and he invited her to join his efforts to help the Belgian troops in Flanders, and Elsie joined her as a driver. They were the only women to live and work in the Belgian front-line trenches during WWI.

They soon decided to start treating the soldiers directly and set up their own dressing station just a hundred yards from the trenches. Not only that, but they were also free agents by that point and had to find time to fundraise for supplies.

5.Fionnghal nic Dhòmhnaill. (1722–1790)

Do you want a strong-willed, determined, brave daughter who stands up for what she believes in? Of course you do, so call her Fionnghal.

Fionnghal (Gaelic for Fiona) was 24 and living on the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides when she bumped into Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was in hiding after the Battle of Culloden. She helped him escape to Skye by disguising him as her maid, Betty Burke, but was later arrested for her efforts.

6.Fanny Wright (1795–1852)

Everyone wants their child to be a social reformer and writer with an awesome name, so it's only right that you should name your daughter Fanny.

Fanny Wright was born in Dundee in 1795. She travelled to America in 1818 and 1824 and, during the second visit, published A Plan for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in the United States, which urged Congress to set aside land for emancipated slaves. She also bought a 640-acre tract of land that she called Nashoba, purchased slaves, freed them, and settled them there.

Fanny also found time to lobby for advocate for equal rights for women, edit a magazine, become a freethinker, and divorce her husband. Go Fanny.

If you want your daughter to completely change the face of womens' education, then you should name her Sophia, Isabel, Edith, Matilda, Helen, Mary, or Emily.

Known as the "Edinburgh Seven", they were the first group of female students ever to study at a British university. They enrolled at Edinburgh University to study medicine in 1869, but male students attempted to prevent them graduating and even organised a mob to stop them from taking their finals. The "Surgeons’ Hall Riot" apparently included a sheep being let loose in the exam room.

Due to this twattery, the women didn't manage to graduate from Edinburgh University, but their campaign eventually resulted in legislation being passed in 1897 that allowed women to qualify as doctors in the UK and Ireland.